The IDEA2 Conference is an expansion of the annual AIBS Council of Member Societies and Organizations meeting. Again this year, we are including like-minded organizations and individuals committed to increasing diversity in the biological sciences.
Topic: The MSS IDEA: The Power of Community in Science
Date: November 14, 2024, 2:00PM - 3:00PM ET
Location: Online
Resources
Scientific institutions increasingly recognize the need to remove barriers for groups historically underrepresented in science and to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). A wider breadth of scientific competenciesāachieved by expanding DEIāis needed to address critical concerns with worldwide impacts. Improving DEI requires a significant cultural shift, and scientific societies provide a unique platform to lead these cultural changes in the biological sciences. Scientific societies represent a wide variety of individuals and institutions; they have access to multiple fields of biology to impart resources and education; and they can enable networking and idea sharing across many disciplines and organizations to empower new approaches.
AIBS released a Diversity Plan in 2021, updated in 2023, which focused on actions that centered on three of our core activities: assessment, training, and communication. AIBS has worked to assess our current programs as well as to develop and expand programs and policies that increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in the biological sciences. AIBS was able to successfully lay the foundation for programs and activities that will achieve these ends.
In 2021, AIBS decided to expand our annual meeting of the Council of Member Societies and Organizations and to engage like-minded organizations committed to increasing diversity in the biological sciences. Past focuses for our Council Meetings and the IDEA2 conference have been:
- 2021: Enabling Scientific Societies to Support Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, and Accepting (IDEA) Scientific Environments
- 2022: Enabling Scientific Societies to Support Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, and Accepting (IDEA) Scientific Environments 2.0
- 2023: Expanding the IDEA
This yearās meeting will be focused on the MSS environment. Minority Serving Societies (MSS) and affinity groups have created a unique ecosystem of acceptance and inclusion for science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) scientists. These organizations create a safe space and a community for scientists from marginalized backgrounds who may not often have peers of the same racial and ethnic backgrounds or gender identity in their professional environment. A survey of our member organizations noted interest in understanding the unique environments that minority serving societies and affinity groups have created for minority scientists. In an effort to gain a deeper understanding of this ecosystem, AIBS will be attending the SACNAS National Diversity in Stem (NDiSTEM) conference October 31-November 2 and convening our IDEA community to report out lessons learned on November 14, 2024.
Who should attend?
- Officers of AIBS member organizations, particularly those in one of the following positions: your representative to the AIBS Council, president or president-elect, executive director or senior staff.
- Members of your organizationās diversity committee or director/manager of diversity initiatives.
- Members of your organization interested in diversity, equity, and inclusion in science
- Student members interested in diversity, equity, and inclusion in science.
Not a member of AIBS? Contact us to find out more about how to join AIBS.
Find out more about our commitment to increasing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Acceptance & Accessibility (IDEA2) in the biological sciences.